SummerHQ

Hello I've recently had my Student Visa Granted ready for my course start in January, however I am now having to arrive in Australia 2 weeks earlier than my course starts, so I am having my OSHC dates changed because I obviously need to be covered from entry. I just wondered what I need to do as per my visa? Do I need to inform immigration and if so how? Do they amend my visa? Or is this not something that needs changing, as long as you have it on entry? I don't know how strict a thing this is. Hope you can help. Thanks

Thanks, that's really helpful to know! I'll have to ask them what they use. Cheers!

Yeah I asked Moneycorp this and because it's still classed as an international payment or something, ANZ can still charge, so it doesn't remove the fee. It's just removes the fee from the UK end of things. Just trying to find out if anyone who has an ANZ account has any experience with it and might know what it cost them.

Hello I hope someone can help answer my question as I'm finding it hard to find the answer from ANZ. Does anyone know if they were charged a fee for a international money transfer into their ANZ account from their UK account? Thank you everyone!

Hello If you're from the UK you can get an easy-peasy 3 month tourist Visa, free of charge. No fee. Yes really. Quick and simples. It's called an eVisitor. Enjoy Australia!!! https://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa-1/651-

Hi, you don't need a Medicare card for a WHV. Basic healthcare is reciprocal as you're from the UK as you're essentially still 'on holiday'- But you WILL need good travel insurance (I got a year travel insurance through Insure and Go). I did my WHV 5 years ago - times were different, but it took me about 2 months to find work - so make sure you've got enough cash to get you through 2 or 3 months. Setting up a bank account is easy - I went with ANZ and the service was swift and easy. You'll also need a Tax File number (basically like a national insurance number here in the UK) so you can work. Just google Tax File Number. Once you're earning the Aussie dollar things will be easier and as you have hospitality experience picking up bar and waiting work would be beneficial, but if you're a hard worker they'll hire you. They often do a 'trial' with you for an hour, to see what you're like. Let me know if you have any more questions - I've been and done it and it was amazing, enjoy!

For electrician work you will definitely need qualifications. haha, unfortunately marrying a Sheila won't solve your problems either... Defecto visas take a good 12 months of living and sharing bills together before you apply, then a few years for the visa to 'nature' before you can do any work, and partner visas take centuries to go through too so it's not that simple either. I think your best bet at the moment is getting in touch with fire fighter recruitment. I know it's not the same trade but I know an ambulance paramedic who go in that way and he had many years experience in the uk.

I disagree, I think 15 years experience would be very valuable to anyone. It's on the list as an in demand 'available' occupation, so there's clearly a need. If there wasn't it definitely wouldn't even be on the list. Volunteer firefighters don't want full time roles often. I used to work for the fire service in the UK and our retained firefighters were retained for very good reasons. I wouldn't say that they applied for full time roles. They usually like being retained/volunteer as they are retired or have other jobs. It may be schedule 2, but that doesn't stop you from reaching out to them ... Everything is always worth a shot, you never know where it might lead! It's only by not trying that you fail. Go for it!!

No worries, It's right at the end of the list - It says 'available' so I reckon you could go for Skill Select and you could potentially be invited by Western Australia to apply. I am sure they would be all too willing to have a Fire Fighter with 15 years experience!! If I was in your position I'd be putting in that expression of interest tonight!! You might want to speak to a Migration Agent to get their advice, some people find a migration agent takes the hassle out of the tricky process, but other's prefer to navigate it on their own and save some money. You'd be looking at upwards of £1000 for migration agent fees on top of the Visa fees. How old are you? Under 45 is easier than over 45.

Hi Robbie Fire Fighter is on the SOL in Western Australia at the moment - http://www.migration.wa.gov.au/services/skilled-migration-wa/occupations-in-demand So if I were you I'd be going for it through that! How long have you worked in the Fire Service in the UK? Looks like that might be your route!

Loved reading this - it's fantastic to hear you've now settled in, and in Darwin too... gosh any Pom moving to Darwin needs a medal for the humidity alone! If you can do Darwin I think you could do anywhere in Aus easily You sound so relaxed and happy despite the set backs Keep going! Don't come back to the UK, honestly it's all Brexit rubbish here at the moment, you're not missing anything! And the pound has gone welly up against the dollar over last few months. So you truly are better off in Australia at the moment.

Hello Quick and easy question hopefully - how long before your course start date can you apply for your Student Visa? I've heard 90 days and also 124 days - which is correct? My course would start on 30th January. Thanks!

Hi everyone, I was wondering if anyone has any knowledge of if you take anti-depressants what this impact has on your medical being approved? I have a social anxiety (panic attacks, the result of a past trauma) that is helped tremendously by a low dose of anti-depressants, Thank you for your advice,

Hi have you looked at AirBnB? http://www.airbnb.com - I've used many times around the world and it's been great. But as everyone says, expect to pay peak prices, with Christmas and School Holidays everything gets booked up (it's like August time in the UK WITH Christmas on top! crazy) So book sooner rather than later. Airbnb may also get you a nice house as owners go away over the christmas period too and want to make some money off their places

Thank you SO much for writing this! I'd wanted to say the exact same thing to those negative speculations on here! Like you, this is very similar to my situation, and your reasons for going into this are the same as mine. :hug: I wish people wouldn't speculate without knowing the WHOLE story. I wish you all the very best and keep in touch x.